Firebomber Publications Blog

Wildfire News Of The Day (the Firebomber Publications blog) provides comprehensive international wildfire news. Subscribers include over 10,000 personnel from fire agencies, contractors, and government entities on five continents. "BEST NEWSLETTER I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY 32 YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE" - San Diego Fire Department Chief Brian Fennessy.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

WILDFIRE NEWS OF THE DAY - 102909

In wildfire news, a small wildfire broke out near homes in the Hollywood Hills yesterday; but as a writer, you just never know where your work may end up - in this case someone who survived the 2007 wildfires in San Diego County had her submission included in the latest 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' book! An Op-Ed piece from Santa Cruz discusses the pros and cons of controlled burns; followed by another from the same paper that discusses how CAL FIRE's decision to delay releasing seasonal firefighters will increase the strain on a fire budget that is already nearly spent and the fiscal year is only halfway done! The role of ham operators in providing information during the Loma Fire is revealed in the next article. Power utilities in California, burned by recent lawsuits and insurance costs, are lobbying the Public Utilities Commission to allow them to increase rates to cover rising insurance costs. Anti-logging activists in Oregon have won another court battle in a salvage logging case within the burn area of the Biscuit Fire; but a controversial grant of $2.8 million has been awarded to the US Forest Service for work in Washington DC, despite several complaints from Western states that the money could be better used in preventing wildfires west of the Mississippi. Trouble in paradise, as firefighters on the Hawaiian island of Maui have a 30-acre wildfire to deal with. One possible explanation for fires spotted burning in North Korea in mid-October may be that farmers were burning off some of their land rather than the earlier explanation that it was massive forest fires. Indonesia is working with Australia to implement a satellite surveillance system that will help them better identify wildfires early. As we head south, a forested area on New Zealand's South Island is being scrutinized for its potential as a fire hazard. Citing waste and inefficiency as problems for the current two-tier arrangement in Victoria, Australia, the Royal Bushfire Commission is recommending that Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment be combined into one agency; something which may be reflected in the next article about fire spotters in Victoria who complain that they don't have binoculars and other necessary tools with which to perform their duties due to a lack of funds. An article underscores the importance of timely and accurate information on bushfires in Victoria. Whereas most of the focus in bushfire recovery stories has been on homeowners, the next one focuses on businesses trying to recover from the Black Saturday bushfires; even as residents of the Yarra Valley are considering various locations as bushfire refuges. Psychologists stress the need for the right mindset for civilians dealing with bushfires, such as the recent ones in Queensland. Fire agencies in South Australia fear that residents have become complacent, leaving them unprepared for the bushfire season; but an editorial leaves no doubt as to the danger. Firefighters in Tasmania are learning survival techniques in the event they are trapped in burnovers. And finally, beware of visitors bearing gifts, as one Los Angeles County fire station crew found out when someone appeared with what looked to be a bomb!

Small fire burning near homes in Hollywood Hills

Author relives 2007 wildfire evacuation in 'Chicken Soup' book

As We See It: Fire and rain: Controlled burns can benefit forest and fire management

Loma Fire prompts state to increase California's firefighter staffing

Santa Cruz County Hams Called to Assist During Wildfires

Utilities: Wildfire insurance costs killing us

Court backs those who protested salvage logging after Biscuit fire

Funds for D.C. wildfires rebuked, then restored

Maui firefighters contain Lahaina brush fire

North Korea may be burning farmland

Online forest fire monitoring system launched in Indonesia

Naseby forest fire hazard reassessed

Commission considers single fire agency

Crews lack firefighting equipment

Fires leave little room for error

Business struggle to recover from February bushfires

Shelters a place of last resort in bushfire-prone Yarra Valley

Preparing Psychologically For Bushfires: Resources For The Public, Australia

Residents unprepared for fires

Editorial: Pay attention to warnings on fire risk

Vic Bushfires Help Develop New Firefighter Training

Eagle Rock fire station evacuated

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